Support Ships for Reb Bomber Spam?

By sirseatbelt, in Star Wars: Armada

So I was very happy with my tournament list. I made a few play mistakes that ample practice should rectify. But the only game I straight up lost hard core was to a dedicated anti-fighter Imperial list. So I've been tweaking.

What do people like better for Fighter Spam? Both lists use Adar Talon/Yavaris combo.

I've tried using AFMK2 with Gallant Haven and Point Defense to middling success. It soaks damage well for fighters. Very effective.

The alternate list runs 2 Neb-Bs and a CR-90 with Tantive 4 and Antillies. It doesn't protect my fighters as well and individual ships are squishier. But it's much more flexible - which suits my play style perfectly. Squishier ships are worth fewer points though and losing one doesn't gimp my gameplan. Although it might force me to readjust on the fly. Gallant Haven makes a big fat stupid target, and it's worth a whopping 1/3 of my total points. It does work. But losing it really sucks.

What have people used and what do you like better?

Edited by sirseatbelt

I haven't been a fan of the Gallant Haven for a while now. In general, the AFIIs do not synergize well with our fighters. AFIIs want to keep things at arm's reach and move quickly around the flanks. Our fighters want to get stuck in, but move somewhat slow (especially the B-Wing). For now it's workable. With the Gallant Haven, though, the lack of synergy is really telling. Either you get stuck in alongside your fighters and die a horrible death or you keep your fighters back, massively limiting their effectiveness. It honestly feels like something that belongs on the VSD. Imperial fighters are more comfortable keeping their distance, in large part because of Rhymer. Their bombers can hang back and still contribute damage while their fighters hang around the capital ships to keep other bombers off. Our fighters can't do that. We have to proactively go after the Imperial bombers to eliminate the threat and push in closer with our bombers to be threatening with them.

Once the MC80 is on the scene, I'll be going with that behemoth instead of an AFII. Beyond what I think is going to be a good title card (Independence), the ship in general will be more comfortable going slower and getting stuck in. The Neb-B is, and will likely remain, a staple of my squadron heavy builds. They want to go slow and keep their front directed at the enemy. They work very well using B-Wings effectively as deterrents and then quickly accelerating beyond the threat. They're hard to use, but Yavaris and Salvation are such valuable tools that they are worth the trouble in my mind.

Edited by Truthiness

I'm a big fan of running 2 fighters with a Neb B (Escort preferred, but not required). Use them as insurance from sneaky GSD's or used to tie up other fighters. Then it becomes a matter of do you use them offensively via commands or defensively without them.

I've also built but never tried running 2 AFmkII built out to run 4 squads each. Seems potent, but you'll need to commit to squad commands. And at 300pts, only running 2 ships.